Moving To Melbourne

[Guest Andrew&Ren]

I have debated about doing this thread and the main reason is the reaction I would get off others who frequent this site.

 

PIA was great before we moved here, we asked lots of questions, found out stuff we needed to know for when we got here and even made some great friends by being a member of this site. However if you want to be honest on here and give your opinion it becomes a very different story and I guess this is why I have been debating about putting this thread on.....

 

Today I thought what the hell!

 

I want to tell my story and even if 1 person benefits from it then its been worth it.

 

We arrived in Adelaide May 2009 from Manchester. We knew very little about Adelaide but really wanted to be in Australia. Settling in was pretty easy, we got a lovely rental in Glenelg right by the beach/jetty rd and the first few months were great. We would use all our free time seeing the sights, taking off for the day to the hills, beaches etc and loved being here. But pretty soon we realised we had done everything Adelaide had to offer in a matter of months. The city centre ( I should say town centre) could be done in a day, the nightlife is just outdated clubs for 18 year olds, a casino and a dirty street called Hindley and the "things to do" in Adelaide list is very small.

 

Basically we became bored with the place very quickly.

 

Being in our 20's when we arrived and coming from a busy bustling city like Manchester we felt old before our time here. The very slow pace of things and things shutting early was not what we were used to at all.

 

But we got on with it and tried to give it a go, we made the most of being in Aus and visited Sydney, Melbourne, The GOR and North Queensland. After two visits to Melbourne we realised it was much more our kind of place....So next week we move and start our new life in Melbourne and we are very very happy about it.

 

Now before anyone jumps on this I am in no way saying I hate Adelaide, I just think if you are young and childless it is maybe not for you. It's funny because a lot of our Australian friends are in full support and have even said "theres nothing in Adelaide for young people", my colleagues at work have supported and encouraged the move too as there is more opportunities for my line of work in Melbourne.

 

We have enjoyed Adelaide but I could not stay here. If I was ready to settled down and had children I think it would be an ideal place. Its great for families and those who prefer a quiet slow pace of life but if you are young and used to great nights out, shopping, new places opening, exciting events happening etc etc...Adelaide is not the place to be!

[Diane]

Good on you, sounds like you've made the most of your time here, given the place a chance and then made a considered decision about where you want to be.

 

All the best for your move, and do keep in touch now and again as with Melbourne being the "next door neighbour" as it were, your views and advice on the place will, I'm sure, be of great interest and much appreciated.

 

If you haven't already found it, the parent site to this - PomsInOz Forum - Migrate and move to Australia Forum has lots of people in Victoria for similar advice.

 

Thanks for posting.

Diane

[Northern Mick]

I have debated about doing this thread and the main reason is the reaction I would get off others who frequent this site.

 

PIA was great before we moved here, we asked lots of questions, found out stuff we needed to know for when we got here and even made some great friends by being a member of this site. However if you want to be honest on here and give your opinion it becomes a very different story and I guess this is why I have been debating about putting this thread on.....

 

Today I thought what the hell!

 

I want to tell my story and even if 1 person benefits from it then its been worth it.

 

We arrived in Adelaide May 2009 from Manchester. We knew very little about Adelaide but really wanted to be in Australia. Settling in was pretty easy, we got a lovely rental in Glenelg right by the beach/jetty rd and the first few months were great. We would use all our free time seeing the sights, taking off for the day to the hills, beaches etc and loved being here. But pretty soon we realised we had done everything Adelaide had to offer in a matter of months. The city centre ( I should say town centre) could be done in a day, the nightlife is just outdated clubs for 18 year olds, a casino and a dirty street called Hindley and the "things to do" in Adelaide list is very small.

 

Basically we became bored with the place very quickly.

 

Being in our 20's when we arrived and coming from a busy bustling city like Manchester we felt old before our time here. The very slow pace of things and things shutting early was not what we were used to at all.

 

But we got on with it and tried to give it a go, we made the most of being in Aus and visited Sydney, Melbourne, The GOR and North Queensland. After two visits to Melbourne we realised it was much more our kind of place....So next week we move and start our new life in Melbourne and we are very very happy about it.

 

Now before anyone jumps on this I am in no way saying I hate Adelaide, I just think if you are young and childless it is maybe not for you. It's funny because a lot of our Australian friends are in full support and have even said "theres nothing in Adelaide for young people", my colleagues at work have supported and encouraged the move too as there is more opportunities for my line of work in Melbourne.

 

We have enjoyed Adelaide but I could not stay here. If I was ready to settled down and had children I think it would be an ideal place. Its great for families and those who prefer a quiet slow pace of life but if you are young and used to great nights out, shopping, new places opening, exciting events happening etc etc...Adelaide is not the place to be!

 

 

Good luck with everything. It would be great if you could post an update in 6 months and let us know if Melbourne is everything you expected it to be. I moved to Adelaide on my own in my late 20s and have never felt the need to move anywhere else because Adelaide for me is lively enough.

 

It must be true that Melbourne is a much more happening place because so many people say it but whenever I've visited, (granted it was only for weekends) it hasn't blown me away in that respect. A beautiful city and the sporting capital it certainly is though.

 

All the best in your new adventure

 

Mick

[Guest mark&rachel]

Andrew and Ren, i totally hear what you are saying. We have come from London and Adelaide is much different from London or Manchester. Its just different folks different strokes eh. Melbourne is more bustling and will suit you. We are 30 but have three kids so this is more us but if i didnt have them then Adelaide wouldnt have been as well suited.

You have given it a go so why not move on if it doesnt suit. You dont come all this way to be unhappy.

This site is soooo useful and i love it but there are (as on all forums) some people who seem really protective and slag people off at the first opportunity. I thought the idea of a forum was for peoples opinions.

 

Best of luck with Melbourne and as someone said put a post in 6 months. Good luck

[Guest Guest75]

Good luck on your move to Melbourne.

 

At least you gave it a while here. Sometimes it does take time for Adelaide to get a hold of you;):cute:

[Guest Drumms]

Good luck - do keep everyone posted. There maybe an opportunity for us to shift to Melbourne in 12 months or so, but we know little of areas to live and so forth. Best of luck!

[Guest MADTOM]

Hi

All the best.

 

Like you we moved to Aus recently Aug 2010. We stayed in Glenelg 2 months and now renting long term.

We do have young kids and though I don't want to put Adelaide down, we too find things slow going and are becoming bored very quickly. That's not to say we go out in the evenings (the occasional meal) but there seems to be a lack of family entertainment. Every time we go out we always drive around the hills or barossa valley (time and time again!)

I am looking into Melbourne too.

 

When you get there and have settled in, please let me know what you think.

 

Good Luck.

 

Lisa

[Sears Family]

Good luck to you

 

Going to Melbourne for a few days in feb - staying in the city, where should I head given I'm there for a short time!??

 

For those with kids - I found this website Kidspot Australia - Parenting site and pregnancy resource - Information on Pregnancy, baby, toddler & kids

Found lots coming up - prob do German fest this weekend (if not too tired from 1st week back at work), doing tunafest next weekend (as it sounds a bit crazy!) and going to watch High School musical the weekend after busy busy...

[scooterdan]

Hey!!

 

Great to read the story from you guys.....I'd by lying if i said that i hadn't thought about it (i just cant face packing my life up again so soon!!)

 

We do like Adelaide but feel other cities might be better in the future.....woulds love to hear how u do in a few months!!

 

Dan

[The Monaghans]

Luckily Richie and I are way too old now to need any kind of nightlife but I guess if we were in our 20's (God, I wish...) we'd be looking for somewhere a bit more lively as well. Good luck with your move and your new life in Melbourne.

[Guest lastboyscout]

Can`t believe the tour I gave when you arrived didn`t open your eyes then

 

And don`t forget where we are, just a little left of Tay Tray Gullay :biglaugh:

[Guest Andrew&Ren]

Can`t believe the tour I gave when you arrived didn`t open your eyes then

 

And don`t forget where we are, just a little left of Tay Tray Gullay :biglaugh:

 

How can we forget you guys?!?! You made things so much better in those first few weeks Lee.

 

PS: I want you and Michelle over for a visit!!!

[Guest lastboyscout]

Saving up already petal

[Guest guest3462]

Great post guys!!! You hit the nail right on the head in many ways. For years before we had kids Rich and I planned to move to Brisbane, in fact we knew where we would live and had visited several times in preparation, but then came along 2 (soon to be 3) little nippers in quick succession and though we still knew we wanted to be in Aus, we knew that a quieter lifestyle was on the cards for us. Adelaide suits us down to the ground! I still have the odd pang for the bigger cities and have yet to visit Melbourne, but we have been back to Brissie and to be honest I felt a bit out of my league there! Sadly, long gone are the wine bars after work and mad fridays - its more a case of kids in bed and telly on for me these days. I can't even have a drink at the mo lol! Talk about old before my time lol!

I wish you all the very best of luck in your new adventures in Melbourne, will keep an eye out for your update posts!

Take care

JC x

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

Each to their own i say....

 

all the best for the move....great post which was sure to stir up some posts...which keep us on our toes..lol

 

Better to have been and tried than to have never tried at all...!!!!!

 

At least you are having a go somewhere else....you obviously realise that Aus has summat their for you guys....keep us posted on any goings on....

 

HG

[Guest kangomik]

Excellent, superb, well done, congratulations.

To move so far away from your original home and being able to realise that the new home is not quite right for you, and deciding to move on again takes real balls.

 

I don't know if posting it on here takes even bigger balls:biglaugh:

 

Adelaide does not have everything for everyone, I hope Melbourne brings you everything you desire in life, and a bit of night life too.

 

Please let us all know how you get on once your settled.

 

All the best, have fun on the adventure.

[Guest allie]

ah mate we will will miss you!!!

 

def the right decision for you guys and a really good post too

 

see you when we get back from the uk xxxx

[Guest Andrew&Ren]

ah mate we will will miss you!!!

 

def the right decision for you guys and a really good post too

 

see you when we get back from the uk xxxx

 

Aw I know, we have met some great people here and it will be sad to leave our friends behind here in Adelaide

 

I'm sure our spare room in Melbourne will get well used though!!!

[Guest allie]

you know it will!!!! will be making my booking asap!! xx

[ShaunWilson]

Great post, enjoyed reading it, and i agree that for a young couple without kids, Adelaide would drive me mad. But glad to see that you see it from all points of view, including those of us with families and young kids, and Adelaide is great for us, just not for you at the moment. Best of luck, and hope Melbourne works out for you. If you ever going up Lygon Street for an Italian meal, gimme a shout and I'll let my friend (85 year old Italian immigrant!!) who owns a great little place know your coming.

[snifter]

All the best with your move. It sounds like Melbourne is defo more the place for you at this point in your lives. You tried Adelaide, gave it time and are confident in your decision.

 

I never stack Adelaide alongside the major cities in the UK because it really isn't like a major city along the lines of a UK one. I view it on par with the likes of our smaller cities and that works for me. I personally don't want to live in any city in the UK and am happy to move back to Adelaide over any of the other large cities in Australia. We currently live about 9 miles from Bristol and while its good for shopping, eating out and cinema etc on occasion we certainly have no interest in clubbing and bars and so on.

 

If someone said to me to live in Manchester, London or Birmingham here I'd refuse. I'd loathe living in a city like that as it has nothing I want or need on a permanent basis. Not one thing appeals about those sorts of cities, so I choose not to live in one But millions of people do like that kind of city living, living in large cities. Makes for a good mix and allows each of us to find the right place to call home

[Guest katsmajic]

Good luck with the adventure, my teens have moved to melbourne, initially for a few weeks with their jobs, now longterm, they say they love the lives they have there and although they like adelaide its just not for them. Gives me n HG a reason to pop over and visit melly...although i couldnt live there, i loathed london etc, cheltenham was busy enough for me and i only went to town there when i needed too lol...

[Guest helene73]

Great to read this i am moving to Adelaide, this was not my first choice i wanted Perth but hey ho i have to go where there is state sponsership, I just hope i can cope for 2 years with a quite pace of life!!!! Good luck with your move

[Guest Andrew&Ren]

Thanks for all the well wishes, great to have some positive threads. It seems people do see my point of view and know the reasons we are moving.

 

We have made great friends in Adelaide and I am sure we will be back.

 

I will try and post when we are 6 months in to update!

 

Thanks again x

[Guest Andrew&Ren]

Great to read this i am moving to Adelaide, this was not my first choice i wanted Perth but hey ho i have to go where there is state sponsership, I just hope i can cope for 2 years with a quite pace of life!!!! Good luck with your move

 

The best thing I can say to you is just make the most of it, Adelaide is a great place to be and far better than most of the UK!!!

 

Give it the 2 years and see what you think of it.

 

Good Luck